Shaft-loop for harness



(No Model.)

I. A. WESSON.

SHAFT LOOP FOR HARNESS.

U I I i Patented July 11, 1882.

W/ NESSES 6%,, %'M

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ ISAAC A. \VESSON, OF WINGOS STATION, KENTUCKY.

SHAFT-LOOP FOR HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 260,812, dated July 11, 1882.

Application filed May 17, 1882. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC A. WESSON, of Wingos Station, in the county of Graves and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft-Loops for Harness; and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in shaft-loops, whereby the use of single-trees is avoided and the draft of a vehicle applied directly to the shaft.

Further objects of the invention are to pro vide a shaft-loop of such construction as to admit of the attachment thereto of the trace and holdback-strap, and provided with a hinged strap-clasp and fastening devices, whereby the horse may be quickly unhitched by the driver in case of an accident or if the horse should become unmanageable.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of my improvement with a portion of a shafttrace and holdback-strap secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the straps and shaft removed and the clasps of the device in open position.

A represents an invcrted-T-shaped plate, the vertical arm a of which is provided on its outer side with an elongated loop-guide, B, whose lower end, b, projects outward, and is provided with an eye, 11. The upper end of the plate A is provided with a perforation, a, to receive a pin, 0, for the attachment of the back-strap, O. The horizontal portion D of the plate A is semicircular in cross-section, and is provided at its forward end with a loop, 01, for the attachment of the front section, e, of the trace. Said loop (1 is bent inwardly, as shown, to avoid contact with the shaft. At the rear end of the portion D of the plate are formed two loops, d d both bent inwardly to admit of the passage of the shaft, and the upper loop, d, is arranged at a slightangle to the plate A to adapt it to receive the holdbackstrap F, while the loop d is adapted to receive one end of a clasp, G, which is bent around the cross-bar of said loop, and then bent at about right angles to receive a ring, h, secured to the rear section of the trace.

I I represent outwaidly-projecting lugs or 5 cars, formed at the upper edge of the portion 1) of the plate A to embrace the shaft. The portion D of the plate is perforated at about its center to receive the belly-band, and is provided at its lower side with a depending loop, J, adapted to receive a clasp, L, which is bent around the cross-bar of the loop, and is bent in semicircular form to embrace the shaft, and provided with a straight end, i, provided with a slot, 1, adapted to take over the perforated projection 11 of the guide-loop B of the plate.

M represents the shaft, provided on its under side with a horizontal draft-plate, N, provided with two depending draft-lugs, n, adapted to embrace the lower end, a of the plate A. The manner of using my improvement may be explained as follows: The ring h of the trace is secured on the clasp G. The latter is folded on the portion D of the plate. The shaft; M is then placed in position, as shown in Fig. 1, with its lugs n embracing the lower end, a", of the plate, and the clasp L is turned to the position shown in Fig. 1, its slot 1 receiving the projection b of the plate A. The spring-keyO, formed of wire bent upon itself to form aloophead, 0, and arms 0, is then inserted in the eye I) to retain the clasp L in position.

P represents a cord secured to the loop 0 of the key, and passing through the eyes 11 on the shaft rearward, to be within easy reach of the driver.

A ring, Q, adapted to slide on the guide-loop B, is slipped over the upper end, l,ot' the clasp L, and is provided with a cord, g, which is guided through loops in the saddle of the haro ness rearward to thedriver. Vt'henitbecomes necessary to unhitch the horse it is only necessary for the driver to pull the cords P and g, which remove the key 0 and ring Q from the clasp L, causing the latter to fall, thus releasing the shaft and the trace H, the latter being held only by the contact of the shaft with the clasp G.

By the improvement thus described the use of a single-tree and of the usual long-draft I00 traces is avtided, the draft being directly from the shaft.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with an inverted-T- shaped plate whose horizontal portion is semicircular in cross-section and provided with loops,as dcscribed,aud whose vertical portion is provided with a metallic fastening device, of a shaft-embracing clasp pivoted to one of said loops, and adapted to be detachably secured to said vertical portion of the plate, and a clasp pivoted to one of the rear loops of the plate and adapted to secure the trace, substantially as set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shaftloop for harness, consisting of an inverted-T- shaped plate, the horizontal portion of said plate being semicircular in shape in cross-section and provided with forward,rearward,and lower loops, while its vertical portion is provided with a guideloop and a shaft-embracing clasp and a receiver-clasp, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the inverted-T- shaped plate provided with a guide-loop and 2 5 perforated projection and clasps, of a retainin g-ring sliding on said guide-loop and adapted to secure the shaft-embracing clasp, and provided with a cord extending rearward through suitable guides to the driver, and a spring-key 0 provided with a detaching-cord and adapted to he passed through the perforated projection of the guide-loop of the plate, and thus retain said clasp in position, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with the inverted-T- 5 shaped plate and its pivoted clasps, of a shaft provided with a draft-plate secured to its under side, and provided with downwardly-projecting lugs, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofihave signed this speci- 4o fication in the presence two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC A. WESSON.

\Vitnesses:

D. T. LOGAN, A. J. VVEBBER. 

